When you make a purchase with your credit card, the transaction typically won't appear on your account statement right away. Instead, it will usually show up at the top of your online transaction history as a pending transaction. Pending transactions are temporary and a normal part of making purchases with a credit card. These charges will eventually resolve on your statement once they have been fully processed by the merchant and your credit card issuer.
Here’s what you need to know about how long pending transactions on a credit card take, how they are processed and what to do if you encounter a problem.
While a charge is listed as pending, it’s not yet added to your account balance. However, the amount is subtracted — at least temporarily — from your credit limit, the amount of credit you have available on the card.
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A pending transaction is a purchase or pre-authorization that has been approved by your credit card company but still needs to be processed by the merchant. Essentially, it means that the merchant has checked in with your credit card issuer to confirmthat you have enough available credit on your account to be charged.
Though the pending amount may be deducted from your available credit limit, this is not a final charge, so pending transactions don’t accrue interest, and they aren’t included in your credit card’s current balance until they are finalized.
» MORE: Statement balance versus current balance: what’s the difference?
How long do pending credit card transactions take to clear?
The short answer here is, it depends. The vast majority of credit card transactions are finalized within five days. However, there are two parties involved in any pending transaction — the merchant and the credit card issuer. Processing time on each side of that transaction will impact the total time that the pending transaction on a credit card takes to clear.
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Since pending transactions are not finalized purchases, any charges listed as pending on your statement closing date won’t be included in your statement balance. Instead, those charges will roll over to your next statement once they are finalized.
On the issuer side of the transaction, each credit card company has its own timeline for how long pending transactions take to finalize on your account. Here’s a quick look at the typical timelines given by each major credit card issuer:
Capital One: Up to 3 days after approval by merchant.
Chase: 3 days after approval by merchant.
Citi: 3-5 business days.
Discover: Up to 5 calendar days.
Wells Fargo: 2-3 days.
Note that issuers can only speak to the side of the transaction that they control, so there are infrequent instances where a delay in approval on the merchant side of the transaction could extend this timeline.
» LEARN:How long should I keep credit card statements?
What’s the difference between a pending transaction and a hold?
Although most pending transactions are resolved within five business days, credit card holds are an exception. Sometimes called pre-authorizations, credit card holds allow merchants to reserve a certain amount of funds on your credit card in advance of a large purchase. These holds are often used by hotels, rental car companies and other merchants that need to make sure funds are available before providing a large product or service to a customer.
Unlike typical pending transactions, credit card holds can last for a longer period of time, depending on the merchant and the type of purchase. For example, if you rent a car for seven days, the rental car company may place a hold on your card for the entire length of your rental, plus an additional day or two.
How to resolve an issue with a pending transaction
If you suspect a problem with a pending transaction on your credit card, your first course of action should be to contact the merchant directly. They may be able to cancel or refund the transaction, or answer any questions you may have about the charge.
If the merchant is unresponsive or doesn’t resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may then file a dispute with your credit card issuer. However, keep in mind that you have 60 days to dispute any transaction on your credit card, so don’t panic if you’re not able to fully resolve the issue while the transaction is still pending.
» MORE: How to cancel a pending credit card transaction
Pending transactions can be confusing, but they are a normal part of using a credit card and typically resolve on your account within five business days. Jaime Hanson is a writer for the credit cards team at NerdWallet.
Pending transactions generally take between one and five business days to clear. That time can vary based on the type of transaction, the payment network, and the bank or credit card issuer.
A charge can be pending on your account for up to five days. There are several factors that affect how long a pending charge will appear on your credit card. These include when you made the transaction and how long it takes the merchant to process it. Card pre-authorizations may also show on your account for longer.
A pending transaction may take a day or two to clear. It should then move from your list of pending payments into your current balance. Sometimes, the process can take a little longer depending on the retailer and transaction type.
How long will a transaction remain in pending? Generally it takes about 3 to 5 business days to process a transaction, although it can take up to 10 business days or longer. While a transaction is pending, the amount is deducted from your available funds, not your account balance.
Although most pending transactions are resolved within five business days, credit card holds are an exception. Sometimes called pre-authorizations, credit card holds allow merchants to reserve a certain amount of funds on your credit card in advance of a large purchase.
Pending transactions occur for several reasons, but ultimately, it means you've authorized a third party to remove funds from your account. Generally, pending transactions should clear in a matter of days. But in rare cases, you may see a transaction take a little longer — usually when holds are involved.
A pending purchase made with your bank account or credit card could be declined if your account doesn't have enough funds or the merchant won't accept payment from your bank.
A pending transaction on your bank account means your bank is processing a purchase you made, a bill you paid, or a deposit that's heading your way, but it hasn't been completed yet. Either the payment hasn't been sent to the vendor yet or the incoming funds haven't cleared, although they are in process.
Generally speaking, credit card issuers don't have a time limit for charging a customer's credit card. The issuing banks, however, will often impose a limit on merchants for charging. These limits can range anywhere from three to 30 days.
It can either be Pending, Successful, Failed, or Reversed. Pending: This is the initial status of a transfer immediately it is made. It is a temporary status that usually changes within seconds to "Successful" or in some cases "Failed".
A pending transaction is a request by a merchant to authorize your purchase. This ensures your account is active, with available funds to cover the purchase. Pending transactions affect your available credit and can take up to 5 days to post to your account.
To cancel a pending credit card transaction before it's complete, start by calling the merchant directly. Ask the merchant or retailer to reverse the charge, cancel the sale or release the hold for the confirmed amount.
Can you pay off pending transactions on a credit card? Because pending transactions are not officially posted to your account, you won't be able to make payments against them.
It's a temporary stage where the funds are essentially set aside for the pending transaction, ensuring they are reserved and unavailable for other purchases. However, if the pending transaction status doesn't change for a longer period, try to contact your bank or the merchant directly.
A pending transaction on your bank account means your bank is processing a purchase you made, a bill you paid, or a deposit that's heading your way, but it hasn't been completed yet. Either the payment hasn't been sent to the vendor yet or the incoming funds haven't cleared, although they are in process.
Available balance is how much money you are able to spend right now, including any pending transactions. Meanwhile, the current balance shows how much money is in your account without subtracting pending payments or withdrawals. Current balance can be useful in some situations, like when doing your monthly budgeting.
Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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